Chapter Seven
The Sixteenth Century
15th October 1582
Outer space
In the depths of the solar system, around the time of the sixteenth century A.D. of Earth, nothing much
happened. The possible reason for this is that no-one was there. And, as the future history would have it,
nothing would happen there for at least another five hundred years.
And yet, there was one thing which would violate all the laws of time and its natural flow.
When all was quiet - for indeed, space is always quiet - there was a burst of light, and a disruption in the
space-time continuum. And from this burst of light, a small object appeared.
And within that small object, ten people were celebrating a success.
"Astrophysical scans indicate that we have indeed reached the sixteenth century," Professor Farrell reported.
"Tell me something, Ben," Christine said, "what caused the eruption at this time?"
"Well I'm not sure," Ben said, "but Professor Farrell and I believe that when most of Earth's civilisation
changed their calendar to the Gregorian system, something different happened in the antimatter dimension."
"But how could changing a calendar cause a spatial eruption?"
"Well, people rely on calendars a lot subconsciously, and this could somehow affect their psychological
afflictions. Their afflictions could have been concentrated and projected outwards from the people.
Overlapping, the afflictions would be forced to travel away from all the people. By the time there was enough
psychological friction between the dimensions to convert the energy into the physical world and cause a
disruption, the afflictions had travelled out into space at the speed of light. Then, at one point, an eruption
would occur."
"I see," Christine said. "But now we'd better be heading back to Earth for a big recharge."
"We're on our way," Professor Farrell said, as he moved back to his seat. "Rachel, please lay in a course
back to Earth, maximum speed."
"Yes, sir," Rachel said, pressing some buttons on her console. "Course laid in."
"Engaging engines, now," Professor Farrell said.
The shuttle went into hyperspace again, headed for Earth.
"All systems functioning," Daniel reported.
"Shuttle's on course," Rachel said.
"When we get to Earth, we'll need at least one and a half days in the sun to recharge," James said.
"Okay," Christine said, "that should do nicely. But there's always room for a problem."
16th October 1582
In the middle of the Australian desert
Earth
"It's extremely hot here," Ben said.
"Well, you wanted sun," Professor Farrell said. "Scans of the area indicate that there is no one around here
except for us."
"I hope you realise that it'll get quite cold out here during the night," Rachel said.
"Don't worry," Professor Farrell said, "the shuttle has an environmental support system. We can sleep
inside."
"Good," Rachel said.
"Recharging has started," James announced as he approached. "Estimated required time: one and a half
days."
"That's cutting it a bit close, isn't it?" Rachel asked. "I mean, it takes about a day each way between here and
the rupture, and we only have three days before the eruption."
"I suppose so," James said, "but there's not a lot we can do now."
Just then, Daniel came up to them. "Hey, this place is absolutely astonishing!" he said. "I can't believe this is
Australia. Sure it's probably just as hot out here in the twentieth century, but I've never been in the desert
before. Do you want to go look around or something like that?"
Rachel thought for a moment. "I guess there's nothing better to do," she finally replied.
"James?" Daniel asked. "What about you?"
"Sure. Why not?"
"Okay. Let's go."
And so, during the course of the day, Daniel, Rachel, James, Jenny and Sally went looking around the
desert. They examined everything they could find, from the sand to the plants and small animals hiding in the
shade. And they learnt a lot in those few hours, about the history of Australia and its environment. In a more
direct way than anyone could ever have imagined.
"It seems that we are some of the first people to have walked upon these sands," James said.
"Even though it will be unlikely that anyone will know," Daniel said.
"Unless we get stuck here for the rest of our lives," Rachel noted.
"How could we?" Jenny asked.
"You never know," Rachel replied, though she would admit afterwards that even she didn't quite know what
she was saying.
"You know even the stars are different here," James commented.
"It's because of the relative positions of the solar system to the galaxy, and the Earth to the sun," Sally
explained.
"I knew that," James argued.
"Anyway," Daniel said, "we'd better head back to the shuttle. It's getting dark."
"I'm with you," Rachel said. "It's also quite cold already."
They all began to retrace their steps.
"How can it be cold in the desert?" Jenny asked Sally.
"It's because of the lack of water," Sally said. "Because there's no water there are no clouds. In the day, the
sun's heat comes straight through, so it's extremely hot. But in the night, all the heat rises and escapes into the
sky because there are no clouds to stop it."
"I see. How do you know all that?"
"At school. The things we learn in the 24th century are different, mainly because people know more, or will
know more, in the future."
"Only if there is a future," Rachel said.
"Don't worry," Jenny said, "nothing can go wrong."
"It's not over yet, Jenny. Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. On the other hand, you're
probably right."
17th October 1582
In the middle of the Australian desert
Earth
"We can make our final preparations," Christine said. "We'll take off at sunset."
"Energy level at 75 percent and still recharging," James reported. "Distribution systems are working
perfectly."
"Piloting systems working," Professor Farrell said. "We have full hyperspace speed."
"Time warp systems are ready," Sally said.
"Navigation standing by," Rachel reported.
"Weapons and defensive systems at 90 percent efficiency," Daniel said.
"The computer is functioning," Ben said. "Most of the damage has been repaired, and automatic systems are
working."
"At least that's over with," Christine said. She stood up from her seat and walked out of the control room.
She went to the back of the shuttle where Nathan was examining his health and strength. He looked up at
Christine.
"How are you?" Christine asked him.
"I'm getting better," he replied. "How are things going with you?"
Christine took a deep breath. "We're now in the sixteenth century, on Earth, in the middle of the desert.
We're all exhausted, and the future of the universe is at stake. And I have to make the decisions. How do you
think I feel?"
"Everything depends on you, then?"
"Luckily, I have some helpers. The shuttle is still recharging by solar energy, and most systems are in full
working condition."
"Congratulations," Nathan said. "What happens now?"
"We'll leave tonight after the sun goes down, because we won't be able to recharge anymore. We go to the
beginning of the eruption, and stop it, then go back to our time." She paused, then added, "And hope that
nothing goes wrong."
"I guess all I can do is wish you good luck," Nathan said. "The medical computer here is less than perfect,
and I won't be able to do much for a few more days."
"Get well soon," Christine said, as she leaned down to kiss him. Then she turned around and went back to
work.
For the rest of the day, the group worked on restoring all of the shuttle's necessary systems. When they had
finished they stopped to rest for the long journey ahead of them.
Nothing much happened otherwise, though at one stage, a small group of Australian Aborigines came along,
probably on some sort of hunt for food. The Atlas' sensors detected them, and Daniel managed to get the
shuttle's cloaking device on before the Aborigines noticed it.
Later, the sun went down over the horizon. As it disappeared, the land became dark, lit only by the pale
moonlight above.
And then there was a sudden glow of light from one specific area, as a piece of twenty-fourth-century
technology lifted itself from the sixteenth-century earth, hardly making a sound as it flew off into the sky at a
speed faster than anyone of that time could have thought possible.
Inside it, though, there was a lot of noise, from the strain of the speed of the shuttle against the friction of the
air. There were also pieces of equipment scattered about, and inside the walls and floor, damaged systems
which were beyond anyone's comprehension and ability to repair.
"Inertial damping field holding," Daniel reported.
"We have now attained escape velocity," Professor Farrell said.
"Rachel," Christine said, "lay in course to the future rupture's location."
"Course laid in," Rachel reported, after pressing some buttons on the navigational console.
"Professor?"
"Hyperspace systems ready," Farrell said.
"Engage," Christine said.
The shuttle, at its extremely fast speed, accelerated an disappeared into space in the wink of an eye, leaving
behind it a burst of radiation, which vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
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